Among the high-profile additions in the PSL 2025 draft are Warner, Williamson, Mitchell, and Chapman.

Ironically, the PSL entered the IPL window this year in an attempt to increase the caliber and accessibility of foreign players they could sign. The squad for the tenth PSL season has the most number of well-known foreign players they have handled in the post-COVID period, suggesting that their calculated gamble paid off.

At this year’s draft, which took place at the expansive Hazuri Bagh at Lahore Fort, the PSL signed some of the greatest stars, including David Warner, Daryl Mitchell, Jason Holder, Rassie van der Dussen, and Kane Williamson. Even if the ceremony itself was a halting, drawn-out event that took an astounding seven hours to complete from beginning to end, the shoddy packaging shouldn’t take away from what might ultimately be a really good product.

Partial player availability, which was frequently a problem in previous editions, was not an issue for the first time. IPL 2025 is the only other cricket competition that will take place during the PSL’s play period, which is from early April until late May. Since the IPL auction is completed and any players who are left over are definitely accessible, all of the draft’s players have expressed their full desire to play in the PSL.

Rashid Khan, for instance, signed a three-year contract with Lahore Qalandars in 2023, but he will now play in the IPL. The choice was not without trade-offs. However, a large number of players from Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand—who were frequently unavailable due to the PSL’s customary February–March window conflicting with their home international season—were signed.

More than half of the platinum choices in the draft were Kiwis, with Finn Allen, Mitchell, Adam Milne, Michael Bracewell, and Mark Chapman all selected in the highest category and all first-time PSL players. New Zealanders were especially well-liked. They added two first-time players, Williamson and Kyle Jamieson, with the supplemental pick.
The PSL has enjoyed foreign power hitting throughout the years, and each team is content that there is enough native fast bowling to go around without being overburdened. This time, it was different; among the foreign quicks snatched up were Milne, Sean Abbott, Jamieson, Nahid Rana, Holder, Corbin Bosch, Alzarri Joseph, and Josh Little.

The availability of players who would not have otherwise been PSL alternatives may help to explain that, but it may also be a sign of the teams’ declining faith in local fast bowling skill.

Players that have come to represent a certain organization have to say goodbye and leave. After winning three titles as a one-franchise player, Faheem Ashraf departed Islamabad United. Quetta Gladiators obviously didn’t think his star was waning, as they utilized their wildcard to choose him in the Platinum category instead of the Silver one to which he had been assigned.

Additionally, the Gladiators were moving. Sarfaraz Ahmed, who played in each of the past nine seasons and served as captain for the first eight, was not selected in the draft; Gladiators owner Nadeem Omar stated that he would play a “new role” with the team.
In the meantime, Mohammad Hasnain also departs from the Gladiators to join the Multan Sultans. Ihsanullah, the Sultans’ fastest bowler until 2023, was ironically left unpicked after an independent investigation concluded that he had suffered serious injuries as a result of the PCB’s poor management of an elbow ailment. Ali Tareen, the Sultans’ owner, stated last week that doctors agreed he would never again reach those speeds.